Local Telluride by the Sea lineup announced

J.L. Stevens

Saturday

Aug 31, 2013 at 2:00 AMAug 31, 2013 at 12:06 PM

PORTSMOUTH — Telluride by the Sea. Those four words signify cinematic elation every September, when Bill and Stella Pence handpick films from the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado to be shown on the big screen at the historic Music Hall in Portsmouth.

PORTSMOUTH — Telluride by the Sea. Those four words signify cinematic elation every September, when Bill and Stella Pence handpick films from the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado to be shown on the big screen at the historic Music Hall in Portsmouth.

Tickets to this year's six feature films are on sale now for the festival taking place at The Music Hall and The Music Hall Loft on Friday, Sept. 20, through Sunday, Sept. 22.

Stars to be featured in the festival include Brad Pitt, Bruce Dern, Ralph Fiennes, Kristin Scott Thomas (in two films) and Michael Fassbender. International stars include Daniel Auteuil, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Irrfan Khan. There will also be new work from directors Alexander Payne ("Sideways," "The Descendents") and Steve McQueen ("Hunger," "Shame"); and voice-overs by Cate Blanchett and Diane Kruger. And, for passholders only, "Silents, Please!" will feature three silent films: iconic comedy "Safety Last!" starring Harold Lloyd (with live score accompaniment by local band Dreadnaught); Carl Dreyer's "The Passion of Joan of Arc" and the film that inspired the creation of the Telluride Film Festival, Paul Fejos' "Lonesome."

We grabbed a few precious minutes with Chris Curtis, film coordinator for The Music Hall, the morning the TBTS film titles were announced.

PORTSMOUTH HERALD: If you had to pick, which film is Chris Curtis most looking forward to?

CHRIS CURTIS: Were a gun to my head, I could still not pick only one; if the hammer is pulled back, I would pick "The Lunchbox," because I love glimpses into far-eastern cultures, and "The Galapagos Affair," because they had me at "Darwin meets Hitchcock," and then I'd also sneak in the "Silents, Please!" series before the trigger gets pulled, because silent films can be so magical and because Bill and Stella handpicked the three films. I've seen "The Passion of Joan of Arc" and am thrilled to see it again, and I'm delighted to get to see the other two, "Lonesome" and "Safety Last!" (with live score by Dreadnaught!) on a big screen, to boot!

HERALD: What makes this year's Telluride by the Sea sparkle?

CURTIS: I don't think there needs to be any particular sparkle noted about this year. For me, and for so many others, Telluride by the Sea shines so bright. To immerse oneself in some of the finest filmmaking of the year and to be able to see these before 99-plus percent of other humans. Every year is a supernova. That being said: Kristin Scott Thomas, Ralph Fiennes, Irrfan Khan, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alexander Payne, Bruce Dern, Steve McQueen ...

HERALD: Each year's Telluride by the Sea features its share of luminaries/celebrities. Who might we expect to catch a glimpse of this year?

CURTIS: If you mean on-screen, see above. If you mean in person, see below.

HERALD: What are the odds that Brangelina (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie) will make an appearance in the Port City?

CURTIS: 18 percent (given a 16.75 percent margin of error)

HERALD: Will all of the films be shown in The Music Hall (versus the Loft)?

CURTIS: The six debuts will be in the historic theater, as always. The three silent films are in the Loft, a special series for passholders only.

HERALD: Telluride by the Sea isn't only about the films. There are some shindigs as well. What will be the hottest to attend, and why?

CURTIS: The Patron Pass opening night post-film party at Radici — ummm ... it's Radici! Also, that's the time to talk about the opening film and rejoice about the rest of the weekend to come! The Patron Passholder brunch at The District — errr ... it's The District! More time to talk about the films and have some great food and relax because, "I'm a Patron Passholder, so I can chill out, take my time and then walk past the queues and right into the theater to take my seat." And, the Wrap Party at The Portsmouth Brewery — well ... it's the Portsmouth Brewery! (It has) a) A wonderful spread of food and b) fantastic beer, some more film talk, too, sure, but see a & b.

Here's a look at films to be featured in the festival:

"Nebraska"

United States, 110 minutes, Paramount Pictures

Woody (Bruce Dern, winner of Cannes best actor prize) is a booze-addled alcoholic. Convinced that he has won a mail-order sweepstakes, he embarks on a cross-country journey, his youngest son David (Will Forte) playing Sancho to his Don Quixote. Telluride favorite Alexander Payne ("Sideways," "The Descendants") creates a bittersweet elegy to the American extended family.

"The Lunchbox"

India, subtitled, 105 minutes, Sony Pictures Classics

Winner of the critic's week Viewer's Choice Award at Cannes. A mistaken delivery in Mumbai's famously efficient lunchbox delivery system connects a lonely young housewife (Nimrat Kaur) to a nearly retired number cruncher (Irrfan Khan, "Slumdog Millionaire"), as they build a fantasy world together through notes in the lunchbox. The story of the life we dream of versus the life in which we live, and of the courage it takes to turn fantasies into reality, in this elegant Chekhovian comedy-drama.

From director Steve McQueen. Based on an incredible true story of one man's fight for survival and freedom. In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty personified by a malevolent slave owner (Michael Fassbender), as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. Solomon's chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist (Brad Pitt) will forever alter his life. Film contains sequences of harrowing violence.

"Before the Winter Chill" (Avant l'hiver)

France, subtitled, 103 minutes, courtesy of TF1

Kristin Scott Thomas and Daniel Auteuil star in this subtle story of a man in the autumn of his life, torn between a loving wife and his dangerous attraction for a troubled, mysterious young woman. Novelist-filmmaker Philippe Claudel's second film offers an unforgettable glimpse at the skeleton beneath the elegant skin of suburban gentility.

"The Galapagos Affair: Satan Came To Eden"

United States, 126 minutes, courtesy of Geller/Goldfine Productions

Darwin meets Hitchcock in this documentary. Directors Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine have created a parable about the search for paradise, set in the brutal yet alluring landscape of the Galapagos Islands, which interweaves an unsolved 1930s murder mystery with stories of present day Galapagos pioneers. A gripping tale of idealistic dreams gone awry, featuring voice-over performances by Cate Blanchett, Diane Kruger and Gustaf Skarsgard.

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